A Painter Passing Through lyrics

Once upon a time I was on my own
Once upon a time like you've never known
Once upon a time I would be impressed
Once upon a time my life would be obsessed
Once upon a time, once upon a day when
I was in my prime, once along the way
If you want to know my secret don't come runnin' after me
For I am just a painter passing through in history

Yesterday is gone, yesterday's alright

I would rather be at the boathouse, out of the daily grind
I'd sooner be down at the boathouse, what a way to unwind
Now I don't wanna know how it feels to be set back
So I'm leavin' here on a one-way track
I'd rather be in mosquito alley, out of my right hand lane
You should see my mosquiot tally, all that moves is fair game
Now I don't wanna know how it feels not to be loose

I don't believe in miracles if it's all the same by you
Your wishes would come true if I had my say
Whether it's right or wrong the words of every song
Remind us of a love we knew where love should not go wrong
In yesterday
Hang on ye drifters now you got so much to go and gamble on
Watch out for the shifting sand where ever you may ramble

I was sittin' in my hotel room, strummin' my old guitar
Not much to do when you're far away, playin' some smokey bar
I was feelin' a little empty and feelin' a little blue
When the maid came in and asked me if she could do my room
I put down my old guitar and she gave me a smile
She had a crusty voice and a drinker's look, but she had a friendly style

I saw two dreamers dreamin'
They almost caused a spark
I saw two lovers in paradise
Right back at the start
I saw to minds in the world set free
But it almost broke my heart
Isn't it strange to be right now
Havin' you close to me
Much to my surprise

I saw two schemes schemin'
They almost caused a lark
They were two brave souls on a wild blue spree
Right back at the park

I've got a song that it is my mind, my little love who is never unkind
I'm a poet and I'm better off dead. These are the words she said
Down by the breadline pickin' up dough, hand me the guitar, there I'll go
I would rather make a living instead, instead of bein' in the red

My little love from the world outside, helpin' me keep, turnin' the tide

See the people walkin' up and down
See the people movin' all around
On the streets of my hometown on Yonge Street
Longest street in the world they say
Summertime soon slips away
I hope I'll see you one fine day on Yonge Street
Everywhere you go in a city by the lake
Back there in the flow you may give a hand a shake
Everyone you pass seems to wanna say hello

Four months ago in April on a daycoach she came down
And the dust autumn winds begin to blow
Shoulda known I couldn't hold livin' out so far from town
And the nights to come are long are slow to go
Well now she's up and left me and when walkin' down the line
And the dusty autumn wind begins to blow
All dressed up in red velvet and he high heeled shoes so fine

Hear the call of the ringneck loon
Hear the sound he will be home soon
Hear the cry in the afternoon
Ringneck loon, he knows best
He's a loon and he don't care less
Ringneck loon, away off shore
How could anybody ask for more

Hear the call of the ringneck loon
Hear the sound he will be home soon
Hear the cry in the afternoon

Ringneck loon, he can't rest

Uncle Toad sittin' by the old south gate
Waitin' them boys they bin stayin' out late
Uncle Toad thinks they're way out of line
Maybe they think he is past his prime
Uncle Toad said better straighten up right
When Uncle Toad spoke it was not a pretty sight

Uncle Toad lived in the wood out back
Lived in the shade of a utility shack
He looked in at the big brick housr

If you could read my mind love
What a tale my thoughts would tell
Just like an old time movie
´Bout a ghost from a wishin´ well
In a castle dark or a fortress strong
With chains upon my feet
You know that ghost is me

I don´t know where we went wrong
But the feeling´s gone
And I just can´t get it back

If you could read my mind, yeah
If you could read my mind love

CAREFREE HIGHWAY
Gordon Lightfoot

Pickin' up the pieces of my sweet shattered dream
I wonder how the old folks are tonight
Her name was Ann and I'll be damned if I recall her face
She left me not knowin' what to do
Carefree highway, let me slip away on you
Carefree highway, you seen better days
The mornin' after blues from my head down to my shoes
Carefree highway, let me slip away